AFC Fylde Women secured back-to-back victories on Sunday after beating Chorley Women 2-1 in the Preliminary Round of the FAWNL Plate.
On a rain-sodden afternoon at Kellamergh Park, the Coasters and the Magpies battled it out for a place in the next round of the Plate competition.
Fylde established a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Iszy Binks and Abi Duffell, before Nicola Worthington pulled a goal back for Chorley in the dying moments to set up a nervy finale.
However, the Coasters prevailed to claim a 2-1 win and book their place in the First Round of the FAWNL Plate, in which they will travel to Wolves Women at the end of September.
Jake Williams and Steve Mainwaring were looking to build momentum after their team earned a first win of the season last weekend. With a break from league action, the Plate offered them the opportunity to embark on a cup run whilst giving the players some valuable minutes on the pitch.
At the same time, Carmelo Ruggieri’s Magpies were hoping to continue their strong run of form after registering three wins out of four in the league. The Coasters knew that they were in for a tough test against their Lancashire neighbours.
In the Fylde starting line-up, Isabel Pendlebury kept her place between in the sticks, while Iszy Binks captained the side as Holly Kelsh-Ridge dropped to the bench. There was also a start for forward Ylenia Carabott, who opened her goalscoring account last time out.
The Coasters showed their attacking intent from the outset as Karri Chan chipped the ball through to Duffell, but Duffell was caught offside. A few minutes later, Carabott found the back of the net but was also denied by the offside flag.
The Magpies almost got in behind the Fylde defence, only for Ella Holt to make a last-ditch clearance to prevent the counterattack.
Fylde went ahead in the 13th minute when Binks made it three goals in three games with a powerful drive into the back of the net. Collecting a pass down the right flank, Binks raced forward and fired across goal, beating Chorley goalkeeper Molly Finch, who could only get a fingertip to it.
And Fylde would have doubled their lead five minutes later but for an outstanding goalline clearance by the Chorley defender. Binks’ corner kick picked out Carabott, who steered the ball on target, only to see it hooked off the line.
The hosts were forced into an early change in the 20th minute when Eve Whitaker was withdrawn through injury and replaced by Teal Dunion in the midfield.
Chorley came close to a leveller in the 35th minute when a long-range strike flashed narrowly over the crossbar. On the cusp of half-time, the Magpies created another big chance from a teasing free-kick into the box, but Alex Sanchez made two vital interventions to clear the danger. As a result, Fylde took a one-goal lead into the break.
Half-Time: AFC Fylde Women 1-0 Chorley Women FC
The visitors started the second half in the ascendancy as they looked for a way through the Fylde backline. Moments after the restart, a through ball almost found its target, but Binks was alert to make an interception.
As the pressure mounted on the hosts, Chorley won a free-kick in a dangerous position after Millie Tindall committed a foul on the edge of the box. However, the resulting free-kick flew harmlessly wide of the post.
Shortly after the hour mark, Duffell added a second for the Coasters with a crisp finish past Finch to score her first goal for the club. After excellent build-up play by Imogen Borrowdale, Duffell timed her run to perfection and swept home from inside the area to double Fylde’s lead.
With quarter of an hour remaining, Minnie Rogers came on for Mia Hyland to provide fresh legs in the middle of the park.
With time running out, the Magpies eventually got on the scoresheet when Nicola Worthington created space for a shot and fired past Pendlebury to halve the deficit. Although it made for a tense finish, the Coasters saw out the last few minutes of the game to secure their passage into the next round of the Plate.
Full-Time: AFC Fylde Women 2-1 Chorley Women FC
The Coasters return to league action next weekend when Norton & Stockton Ancients are the visitors to Kellamergh Park. This home fixture takes place on Sunday 22nd September, with kick-off at 2.00 pm.
AFC Fylde Women: Pendlebury, Binks, Holt, Sanchez, Tindall, Hyland (74’ Rogers), Duffell, Borrowdale, Whitaker (20’ Dunion), Carabott, Chan
Unused substitutes: Kelsh-Ridge, Bowers Folan
Chorley Women FC: Finch, Parish (75’ Wright), Searson, Wade, Wood, Fitzpatrick, Worthington, Stanhope, Gunn (60’ Parker), Price, Dale (60’ Ritchie)
Report by Scott Jones